Page 11 of How to Lose a Pack in 10 Dates

His eyes lock on mine. “Yes.”

“Absolutely not.”

I smile slowly, sweet as poison.

“I didn’taskto be matched with your emotionally constipated little alpha trio, but I’m not going to sit here and listen while you try to tell me who I can and can’t date.”

His jaw tightens. “You don’t know what you’re getting into.”

“Oh, I knowexactlywhat I’m getting into,” I say, leaning over the table until we’re practically sharing breath, close enough to see the vein in his neck twitch. “If I want to go on ten disastrous dates with ten scent-drunk alphas,I will. If I want to make your sweet little packmates fall in love with me using nothing but eye contact and unhealed trauma,I will.”

Wes’s nostrils flare.

“And if I decide I want to fall into bed and bond with yourlittle brother?” I add, sugar-sweet. “Then. I. Will.”

His chair creaks with tension, and his large hands curl into fists on the table.

He looks like he might flip it. Or me.

God, he’ssoalpha, and I hate that it still works on me.

“You wouldn’t touch Cam,” he says through gritted teeth.

“Wouldn’t I?” I raise an eyebrow, taunting him now. “He’sadorable. I remember him, you know. He’s the kind of alpha who’d ask how you’re feelingandgo down on you without making it a big thing. Honestly, he’s dangerously close to becoming my favorite already.”

“Aimee—”

“Jace is pretty hot, too,” I continue. “And alphas like that? Theylovea challenge.”

Wes growls. It's a low, involuntary sound that comes from somewhere deep and primal in his chest. It vibrates right through me and settles in the lowest part of my body, and I blink, stunned at myself.

“Did you justgrowlat me?”

He doesn’t try to deny it, or explain it away. “If you think I’m letting you anywhere near him—”

“You’re not in charge of me, Wes.”

“I’m not letting you bond with him.”

I almost laugh. He seriously thinks I want abond? I can barely commit to a plant, no thanks to him. Bonding with anyone is at the very bottom of my to-do list.

Still:

“Oh, don’t flatter yourself,” I say sweetly. “You don’tletme do anything. I do what I want, Wes. Always have, always will.”

The silence between us crackles. His eyes drop to my mouth for a beat too long, and I catch the exact second instinct wins. I can practicallyfeelmy scent trying to pull at him, even through the blockers. I’d bet good money on the fact that if I took off my scent patches right now, he’d lose whatever self-control he’s barely clinging to.

“You’re not serious about this,” he says, voice rough as gravel.

I smirk. “Guess we’ll find out together.”

The server appears with water and menus, poor thing. She freezes halfway through her sentence, taking in the tension and eyeing us with the kind of concern you'd expect to see from someone who'd stumbled upon a live mating ritual.

“Will anyone else be joining you?” she asks, eyes flicking to Wes. I have a feeling that she’s still deciding whether to flirt or flee.

“No,” he says, standing so abruptly his chair screeches. “I’m leaving, actually. This was a one-time thing.”

I raise an eyebrow, determined to torment him even more before he scurries away.

---